ROH TV 3/24/2012

Hello everyone, and welcome to this week’s Ring of Honor on Sinclair recap. If you all are ready, then let’s get on with the show!

We see a video highlighting last week’s main event where Jay Lethal took on Roderick Strong in a “March Mayhem” qualifier before the usual intro.

Kevin Kelly & Nigel McGuinness welcome us to the show from the Du Burns Arena in Baltimore, MD. Kelly & McGuinness hype up tonight’s main event and then take us to the ring where Ring of Honor Executive Producer Jim Cornette is there to conduct an interview.

Cornette hypes up the main event for this Friday’s “Showdown in the Sun” Internet PPV from Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Cornette then brings out the participants for that match, the first one being Roderick Strong with the House of Truth in tow. Next to come out is the other challenger in the main event, Eddie Edwards. Finally, the champion Davey Richards comes to the ring. Cornette says he hopes all 3 men conduct themselves with some professionalism during this interview. Cornette first addresses Richards and says this has gotta be one of the toughest matches of his career.

Richards says “You’re dead wrong”. “This is gonna be the toughest match of my entire life”. “You see, I don’t need to come out here and hype this match, cuz the accolades of these 3 men speak for themselves”. “Now, I don’t like these guys, sorry to say, I don’t really trust them either, but I will say in that ring that night, there is gonna be 3 of the best wrestlers in the entire world”. Cornette says you can expect Edwards to be professional, but as he goes to speak about Strong, Richards cuts him off and says to Strong, “You, I don’t trust at all and I’ll be the 1st to kick your ass”. “Up until a couple months ago, I would have trusted you no problem” as he turns to Edwards. “But nowadays man, I’m just telling it like it is, I’m not so sure anymore, Eddie”. “So, I’m gonna make it real easy for everyone, I don’t trust either one of you”.

Edwards and Richards begin to exchange words as Cornette tries to calm things down. Edwards says to Richards “You know that’s not right, Davey”. “Everytime we faced each other, whether I won or I lost, I faced you like a man”. “How dare you compare me to a prick like that” as he turns to Strong.

Strong now comes in and says “Eddie Edwards, just cuz you and your boyfriend had a bad breakup, don’t be pissed at me”. Strong then turns to Richards and says “You can say that you don’t trust me and Eddie you cannot trust me either, but on March 30th, I will make history and I will take back my Ring of Honor title from that MMA wannabe mother right there”. Cornette tells Strong to watch his language as Strong says he edited himself. Strong turns to Edwards and says “Listen to me very, very clear”. “You know there is a small, small chance I don’t make it outta there the Ring of Honor World champion, I’m gonna have a 2nd opportunity because Michael Elgin is gonna give me his match” as he turns to Elgin. “Ain’t that right big Michael”.

Elgin says “There is absolutely…., but he is cut off as the music for the Television Champion hits and this brings out Jay Lethal. Lethal comes in and says “Hold on one second”. “Jim, I have nothing but respect for you, which is more than I can say about this butt munch”, looking at Strong. “But, I’m here to ask you because I have respect, why?” “Why Jim?” The crowd proceeds to chant “Butt Munch” at Strong as Lethal says “Why is Jay Lethal not getting the respect he deserves, I mean I had a World Title shot against Davey and half the world showed up around ringside and screwed it all up”. “Hell, I wrestled last week this farthead”, looking at Strong again. “And I beat him, but yet, this guy is getting a World Title shot, and I’m not, what’s up with that, Jim?” Cornette explains to Lethal that the triple threat match was made before last week’s match and that Lethal is in contention. Lethal says “Nonetheless, I’m here to make 1 statement, I’m done waiting like a good guy for what I deserve”. “From now on, Jay Lethal is taking what he deserves”. Cornette says to Lethal that if Strong wins on Friday, then Lethal will get a title shot on Saturday. Lethal and Strong start to exchange words as we hear the wolf howl again as this brings out Kevin Steen.

Steen says “You know, I look at that ring, I don’t know what to say”. “Is everybody enjoying the nice parade of handshakers and asskissers over there”. Richards tells Steen to get in the ring as Steen says “Nice hat, Davey”. “Listen, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I just wanted to tell Eddie Edwards a little something actually”. “Eddie, I just wanted to say that I truly, wholeheartedly, am rooting for you in your match with Roderick Strong and Davey Richards”. “Not cuz I like you or anything, but because I want a title match in Florida”. “But Jim, just so you know, I’ve said this before, I’ll say it again”. “Even if Eddie isn’t successful and even if our match in Florida is not a title match, you need to know, I’ll find a way to get a title shot”. “You’re looking at me, Davey?” “Whoever’s the champ, I’ll find a way to get a title shot and once that happens, I will be Ring of Honor World Champion”. And Jim, you know when you call me Wrestling’s Worst Nightmare, by the way, very clever”. “I am telling you, when I am Ring of Honor World Champion, I will be your personal, never ending, nightmare”. Steen’s music plays as he says “Go carry on with your circle of jerks” as we go to commercial.

-Commercial-

During the commercial break, we see a hype promo for this weekend’s “Showdown in the Sun” Internet PPVs as Kevin Kelly interviews Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team. Charlie Haas says “Ft. Lauderdale, Grudge Match, The Briscoes are gonna leave that match like they leave the bar, feet first, because those boys can’t handle their liquor and they sure as hell aren’t gonna handle Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team”. Shelton Benjamin says “Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team, The Briscoes, the biggest event in Ring of Honor”. “This is it, this is the last meeting”. “So Briscoes, lace your boots up real tight, boys, this is gonna be a long ride”.

Back from commercial, Kelly & McGuinness once again hype up tonight’s main event, then take us to pre-match comments from the 2 teams in our opening match.

Charlie Haas says “Its been awhile since Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team have been on Ring of Honor TV”. “I guess Jim Cornette is still mad at me when I suckered those 2 stupid Briscoe Brothers”. “I got the one that couldn’t shut up, I handcuffed him to a post”. “And the one that can’t speak, I bashed his head in with a steel chair and it felt good”. “Jim, I don’t know why you’re mad, I paid both of our fines in cash”. “But tonight, well we got a warm-up match, especially going right into Florida when we fight the Briscoes”. Shelton Benjamin says “You know, we got a little warm-up match with Caprice Coleman & Cedric Alexander”. “You know what, its just takes too long to say, we’re gonna call them the C & C Wrestle Factory”. “Look here boys, you’re gonna get beat on national TV, but if you don’t get outta line and don’t smart off, we won’t bash your brains in too and you can put it on your resume that you got beat by Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team”. “That’s something for the grandkids to be proud of”.

Cedric Alexander says “Haas & Benjamin see me & Caprice as a warm-up match?” Caprice Coleman says “You know what your problem is, you were in the world of entertainment and were let go because you were true athletes”. “Now, you are in the world of athletes trying to entertain”. “You know nothing about the rough side of the mountain because you were given everything that you got”. “And now you come in here and you try to show us what you’ve done in the past”. “This is a new day, this is a new dawn and we’re climbing from the bottom, heading straight to the top and we will not be stopped by Sisqo & Steroids & Ben Stein’s love child”. “Meet us in the ring, pride coming before destruction and a haltered spirit before a fall, remember that”. Alexander closes with an “Amen”.

Benjamin & Haas adhere to the Code of Honor before the match starts, but Benjamin playfully slaps Alexander while doing so. Benjamin & Coleman start for their respective teams. Lock-up and Benjamin with a side headlock takedown. Coleman gets up, but Benjamin slaps him in the back of the head. Benjamin with a knee to the gut, followed by an Irish whip. Coleman, however, comes in and catches Benjamin with a crucifix for nearfall. Benjamin with a shove, but Coleman comes back with a right hand. Benjamin misses a clothesline and Coleman with a series of right & left hands. Irish whip by Coleman, reversed by Benjamin, but Coleman rolls through and connects with a leg lariat on Benjamin for a nearfall. Benjamin then pops right up and nails Coleman with a clothesline. Tag into Haas, who hits Coleman with a gut shot. Headfirst goes Coleman off the top turnbuckle. Alexander tags in, but Haas nails him with a kick to the gut. Haas then sends Alexander through the ropes to the outside, but Alexander comes back in while Haas isn’t looking and proceeds to nail Haas with a series of right hands, followed by a dropkick that sends Haas through the ropes to the outside. Benjamin comes in, but misses a clothesline and C & C hit a double dropkick to Benjamin that sends Benjamin out to the outside also. C & C then get a head of steam and hit stereo tope dives on Haas & Benjamin, sending them crashing into the barricade. Alexander brings Haas back into the ring as Haas is begging off. Alexander gets distracted as Haas throws him into the ropes, where Benjamin nails him with a knee to the face. Haas with a knee of his own to Alexander, followed by an elbow to the back of the head. Tag into Benjamin as Haas Irish whips Alexander to the corner. Benjamin charges and connects with the Stinger Splash, followed by a forearm. Benjamin with a straight right hand to Alexander in the corner while Coleman tries to will him on as we go to commercial.

Commercial

Back from commercial, Benjamin hits a suplex on Alexander for a nearfall. Benjamin goes for a chinlock, but Alexander fights out with gut shots. We see that during the commercial break, Alexander went for something off the top rope, but Benjamin caught with a gutbuster. Back to live action as Benjamin connects with a Samoan drop for another nearfall. Benjamin sends Alexander through the ropes to the outside and then proceeds to distract the referee while Haas drills Alexander with a back suplex right across the barricade, with Alexander crashing into the front row. Coleman is incensed on the apron as the referee is having words with him while Benjamin brings Alexander back into the ring. Tag into Haas, who nails Alexander with a kick to the ribs, followed by a right hand. Haas then stomps away at Alexander in the corner, followed by choking him with his boot. Haas Irish whips Alexander and then catches him coming in, locking in an abdominal stretch. Haas drives his elbow into the ribs of Alexander to put more pressure on the hold. Alexander tries to fight out, but Haas makes the tag to Benjamin. Alexander reverses it, but doesn’t know Benjamin is now the legal man as Benjamin heads up top, nailing Alexander with a double sledge across the back of his head. Benjamin chokes Alexander with his boot and then tags back in Haas. Double Irish whip by WGTT to Alexander, but as Haas whips Benjamin into the corner, Alexander moves out of the way and Benjamin catches nothing but turnbuckle. Alexander with a right hand to Haas, but misses a roundhouse kick and Haas shoves Alexander into Benjamin, who catches his leg. Benjamin shoves him away, but that allows Alexander to nail Haas with a kick, knocking him down. Alexander then slides under Benjamin’s legs and makes the tag to Coleman.

Coleman heads up top and hits both Haas & Benjamin with a crossbody, followed by right hands to both. Coleman with a dropkick to Benjamin, then one to Haas. Coleman with a spinning back kick to the ribs of Benjamin, followed by a spinning axe kick to the back of Benjamin’s head. Coleman goes off the ropes and hits a leaping version of the Edge O’Matic to Haas for a nearfall. Haas goes for a boot, but Coleman counters with a roll-up for another nearfall. Alexander is back up as C & C then hit a double superkick to Haas. Coleman goes for a cover, but Benjamin breaks up the pin attempt. Benjamin with a series of forearms to Coleman, followed by an Irish whip. Coleman reverses it and then C & C hit a combination superkick/snapmare DDT to Benjamin. Alexander is all fired up as he gets set to charge. Alexander with a flying forearm to Haas, followed by lifting him up onto the turnbuckles. Coleman hits step 1 of Overtime with the leaping rana as Alexander gets the crowd louder as he heads up top. All of a sudden, Benjamin comes in and leaps up to the top, nailing Alexander with a kick to knock him off the ropes and send him crashing to the outside. Coleman with a series of left & right hands to Benjamin, followed by an Irish whip. Benjamin reverses it, however, and sends Coleman into Haas. WGTT then hit an inverted atomic drop/big boot combo on Coleman. Haas goes to a mount and rains in right hands while Benjamin lays in some stomps. WGTT set up for the Leap of Faith, but Alexander stops Benjamin from doing so as they begin to exchange right hands. While this is happening, The Briscoes come out to ringside as Coleman counters Haas with a headscissors that sends him into the ropes. While the referee is with Alexander & Benjamin on the far side of the ring, Jay Briscoe has a steel chair and he absolutely creams Haas right between the eyes with it, knocking him out.

Shelton Benjamin can’t believe what happened while many referees come out to check on Haas while we go to commercial.

-Commercial-

Back from commercial as the referees are still checking on a fallen Charlie Haas. Veda Scott is in the ring and asks Shelton Benjamin for his thoughts on what just took place. Benjamin grabs the mic from her and says “I don’t need you out here right now”. “Cuz apparently, those sons of b***hes, The Briscoes, haven’t figured out that bringing chairs into a match isn’t the way to go”. “So, I’ll tell you what, in Florida, this is the last meeting, this is gonna be genocide against every damn person with the last name Briscoe or any idiot out there who cheers them”. Benjamin then argues with the referees as we see a replay of the chair shot. Kevin Kelly says he is gonna check on Haas’s condition as Nigel McGuinness takes us to this week’s “Inside Ring of Honor”.

This week, its the final countdown to this weekend’s “Showdown in the Sun” Internet PPVs. The 1st topic is the match between Kevin Steen and El Generico on Friday, March 30th as we see video of how the match came about from last week’s show.

The next topic is the match also on Friday, March 30th between Lance Storm and “The Prodigy” Mike Bennett. We then go to comments from both guys.

Lance Storm says “Mike Bennett, you seem to have missed the point”. “I didn’t write that letter to piss you off, I wrote it to open your eyes”. “Because you seem to think that the wrestling business is just a means to an end, that Ring of Honor is a stepping stone to that Hollywood lifestyle that you seem to think is important”. “If you want a Playboy model as a girlfriend, if you wanna wear fancy shirts and sunglasses to feel important, that’s just fine”. “But don’t disrespect the wrestling business in the process”. “Ring of Honor isn’t anybody’s stepping stone, there’s a thousand guys out there that would kill to have your spot, and you walk around like somehow you’re better than all of this”. “This coming Friday night, Mike Bennett, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Showdown in the Sun”. “Mike Bennett, you get the privilege of stepping in the ring with Lance Storm, and I get the privilege and the honor of leaving it all in the ring one more time”. “And if you don’t respect me now, Mike Bennett, when I get done with you in that ring, believe me, you will”.

Mike Bennett says “Lance, you really need to lighten up”. “I mean, you walk around and let me get serious for a minute”, mocking Storm. “I mean, Lance, you look like you haven’t taken a crap in weeks, lighten up”. “I mean, I get it, you see me having fun, you see me with beautiful women, you see me as the best and the biggest superstar in all of Ring of Honor, and you’re jealous”. “You’re just like all the rest in the Ring of Honor universe, you’re jealous, you are jealous of what I am and what you are not”. “So Lance, I’ll tell ya what, you wanna get serious, you wanna do all this stuff, you wanna teach me some respect, you wanna straighten me out just like you”, again mocking Storm. “That’s fine, but I’m gonna tell you something, March 30th, I’m gonna get you laid”. “No, no, no, no, I will do you one better”. “March 30th, I’m gonna lay you out”.

The final topic is what is taking place on Night 2 of Showdown in the Sun with the Blind Destiny Challenge, the Briscoes vs. WGTT for the Tag Titles and finally, Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly. We see video from last week highlighting how that match came about as we go to commercial.

-Commercial-

During the commercial break, we see a hype promo for “Showdown in the Sun” as Kevin Kelly interviews The Briscoes. Jay Briscoe says “Its almost time, we got a week left and then its gonna be an ass whooping in Ft. Lauderdale, y’all boys got this coming”. Mark Briscoe says “Charlie Haas, Shelton Benjamin, I’mma be your momma and your daddy, beating you like a red-headed, buck tooth stepchild with a stutter”.

Back from commercial, Kelly & McGuinness are joined by Jim Cornette at the announce table. Kelly says that Haas has finally been taken to the locker room as Cornette says that if he fined Haas & Benjamin for using steel chairs, he has gotta fine the Briscoes for the same thing. Cornette then announces that due to Coleman & Alexander’s win over Haas & Benjamin, those two teams will face off again on the Friday “Showdown in the Sun” iPPV. Before Cornette leaves to go to the back, he says that no matter what, there will be a winner between the Briscoes & WGTT on Saturday, March 31st.

Before our main event, McGuinness takes us to a video reminding the viewing audience what is at stake in the “March Mayhem” Tournament.

Elgin does not adhere to the Code of Honor before the bell sounds. Lock-up and Elgin brings Cole to the corner and breaks clean, but not before shoving him. Cole with a shove of his own and then Elgin misses a clothesline. Cole with a forearm, but Elgin then runs him over with a shoulder tackle. Kyle O’Reilly then joins Kelly & McGuinness at the announce table to scout Cole for their match on Saturday. Cole with a waistlock, but Elgin just throws him off. Elgin charges, but Cole takes him down with a drop toe hold that sends Elgin facefirst into the middle turnbuckle. Cole goes off the ropes and hits a front dropkick to the back of Elgin’s head for a nearfall. Cole with a side headlock, but Elgin counters and goes for a back suplex, but Cole lands on his feet. Cole goes off the ropes and ducks under Elgin’s clothesline attempt, then tries for a flying shoulder tackle, but Elgin does not go down. Cole with an enziguri, followed by an Irish whip, but Elgin reverses it. However, Cole stops himself and catches Elgin coming in with a back elbow. Cole goes up to the middle turnbuckle and hits a rana on Elgin that sends him to the outside. Cole gets a head of steam and hits Elgin with a tope dive that sends Elgin crashing into the barricade. Back in the ring, Cole heads up top, but as Elgin charges at him, Cole lands on his feet. Cole goes for a clothesline, but Elgin counters him and then drills him with a German Suplex that sends the back of Cole’s head right into the turnbuckles for a nearfall.

Elgin stomps away at Cole and then taunts the crowd. Cole tries to fight back with gut shots, but Elgin shoves him into the corner and then nails him with a running shoulder. Elgin with a hard chop that knocks Cole down, followed by a hard Irish whip that bounces Cole off the turnbuckles and sends him crashing hard into the mat for another nearfall as we go to commercial.

-Commercial-

Back from commercial as Elgin hits a backbreaker, followed by turning it into a submission hold. We see that during the commercial break, Cole tried for a slingshot Sunset flip, but Elgin rolled through it and deadlifted Cole up, but Cole countered with a DDT for a nearfall. Back to live action as we see that Cole broke Elgin’s backbreaker submission with knees to the face. Cole with an Irish whip, but Elgin reverses it and hits a side belly-to-belly suplex for another nearfall. Elgin has words with the official and then throws Cole through the ropes to the outside. Elgin with more words for the official as Truth Martini lays in some stomps to Cole, followed by sending him back into the ring. Elgin gets another nearfall and then hits a big slam on Cole, followed by an elbow drop for a nonchalant nearfall. Cole comes back with a jawbreaker and then goes off the ropes, but Elgin fires back, hitting Cole with a back elbow to knock him back down. Elgin with kicks to the back and then applies a seated surfboard as the crowd tries to get behind Cole. Cole gets to his feet, but Elgin nails him with a kick to the gut. Elgin goes for a powerbomb, but Cole gets out and backpedals to the corner. Elgin charges, but Cole gets his boot up. Elgin charges again, but this time Cole gets both boots up. Cole goes up to the middle ropes and tries for a tornado DDT, but Elgin blocks it mid-move and spins Cole around into a slam position. Elgin goes for the Oklahoma Stampede, but Cole rolls off his back and sends Elgin facefirst into the turnbuckles. Cole goes off the ropes and hits a clothesline, but Elgin does not go down. Cole hits another clothesline, but Elgin still won’t go down. Cole tries for a 3rd, but Elgin catches him with a back elbow. Elgin goes off the ropes now, but Cole catches him with a dropkick that sends Elgin onto the apron.

Cole blocks a shot from Elgin and nails him with a kick, followed by connecting with a slingshot DDT on the apron as both men are down on the outside. Back in the ring, Cole gets a nearfall and can’t believe it. Cole tries for the Florida Key, but Elgin drives him into the corner. Cole goes for it again, but Elgin counters and tries for a German Suplex of his own, but Cole counters that into a victory roll for another nearfall. Elgin then pops right up and drills Cole with a version of the Blackhole Slam for a nearfall of his own. Elgin charges and connects with a running clothesline on Cole in the corner. Elgin then sends Cole into the other corner and nails him once more with a running clothesline. Elgin goes for a suplex, but Cole counters and nails Elgin with a superkick. However, Elgin comes right back and drills Cole with a spinning backfist, but Cole comes back with an enziguri. Cole goes off the ropes, but Elgin goes in with him, however Cole catches him coming in with another superkick, but then Elgin cleans his clock with a decapitation style lariat that turns Cole inside out for another nearfall. Elgin places Cole on the top rope and goes up with him. Elgin tries for a superplex, but Cole blocks it. Cole fights back with gut shots and clubs to the back, followed by hitting a Sunset flip powerbomb to Elgin. Cole heads up top, hitting a splash for yet another nearfall. Cole measures Elgin, but all of a sudden, Roderick Strong comes from the back and grabs a hold of Cole’s foot. Strong gets on the apron while the referee is with Martini and he and Cole exchange right hands. Elgin gets back to his feet and Cole gets out of the way as Strong goes for an enziguri kick, but it hits Elgin.

Cole then rolls up Elgin for the victory.

Winner: Adam Cole by pinfall (Roll Up)

Strong does not appear to be too unhappy about his mistake with hitting Elgin, but then gets in the ring and attacks Cole. The House of Truth then double team Cole until Eddie Edwards makes the save. Edwards & Cole brawl with the House of Truth in the ring as we go to credits.

My Thoughts

I thought this was a good episode of Ring of Honor this week.

The opening back and forth promos did a decent enough job of putting some hype on the World Title picture heading into this weekend’s Internet PPVs with the Triple Threat Match & The Blind Destiny Challenge. I think Steen came off the best here with his mic work, but I also liked the almost heelish nature to Lethal’s promo where it looked like he was teasing a possible heel turn down the line. Will be interesting to see what transpires this weekend in the World Title scene.

Caprice Coleman cut the best promo by far this week on the show. Very well done as it made you care about him & Alexander and the match they were going to have against the over-confident Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team. The match was solid, but was more of a backdrop to put a final emphasis on the Briscoes/WGTT feud heading into this weekend. All 4 guys worked very hard and it was nice to see Coleman & Alexander get a much needed win, was it more of a way to get some final heat on the feud between WGTT & The Briscoes that will culminate on Saturday.

Once again, Lance Storm cut a good promo to hype up his match with Mike Bennett on Friday and Bennett did the same, cutting a solid promo himself. Of all the matches this weekend, this one I feel has the chance to be a real dark horse. Its been hyped up very well with the promo work as Storm, the grizzled veteran coming out of retirement, who looks to show some respect to Bennett, the cocky, arrogant scumbag who cares more about looks and fame than anything else. Very simple, but effective story they are telling and I am looking forward to their match on Friday.

The main event was a pretty good match as Cole & Elgin seem to now have the same kind of chemistry that Elgin has with Kyle O’Reilly. Cole played a good FIP and had some very believable nearfalls on the much larger Elgin. O’Reilly I thought was very good at the commentary table during this match, just coming off as this in over his head, against the world, whiner who thinks he is way better than he actually is. I am really starting to like the heel stuff from O’Reilly as I think it was needed to make him stand out because of all the comparisons, which are granted, to his trainer Davey Richards. Finish was interesting with Strong getting involved and clearly seeing Cole out of the way and hitting Elgin to lead to the finish, then not be too upset at what he did. Another good tease for an eventual House of Truth break-up, which I will go out on a limb and say we may see this weekend. Match itself, though, was pretty good.

Overall, good show this week as they did a good job hyping up the Internet PPVs this weekend.

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